The Social Shuffle is a creative solution to a societal problem. It’s an online tool that enables teachers to rearrange classes in such a way that it generates more socially minded classrooms, whilst providing children with a fun experience. Every time they shuffle, they come to sit next to a different classmate. And by the end of the year, they all know each other better. The catchy name of the tool strongly enhanced its activation and PR value.

We integrated the Social Shuffle online tool in a simple website, optimized for digital school boards, used in almost every Dutch classroom. It is designed in such a way that it provides its young users a shared and fun experience, supported by wacky emojis, an introductory video and a talking avatar guide. It is also designed with a classroom environment in mind, where attention spans are short and children are eager to judge whether something is cool or not. Furthermore, the tool helps shuffling in an optimal way: with every new shuffle, children are sat next to different classmates. So by the end of the year, they all know each other better.

The Social Shuffle was adopted by at least 120 schools throughout the whole country, activating thousands of children to start shuffling, make new friends and be nicer to each other. Beside activating social behavior and contributing to happier classes, the Social Shuffle spread the positive belief of Zorg en Zekerheid that we should get to know each other better. National news broadcasts in the Netherlands and Belgium reported on this social innovation in ways we could only have dreamt of, realizing a PR value of €600,000 in the Dutch media alone, while spreading the idea to other schools. In the meanwhile, the scientists received a prestigious academic award for the societal impact their research has instigated. But the result that makes us the proudest, is that children loved it and that sitting to an unfamiliar kid has now become something cool.